What was found in Reading's water
The level at the city's main supplier, the highest level anywhere in the city, the EPA limit for each, and where every figure comes from.
| Contaminant | Level vs EPA limit | Suppliers | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nitrate | 4132.5 µg/L 41% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6240 µg/L — MUHLENBERG TWP MUNI AUTH · 22,400 people · 2019 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Fluoride | 960 µg/L 24% of the EPA limit 4000 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 2260 µg/L — MT PENN BORO MUNI AUTH · 10,400 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Copper | 288.75 µg/L 22% of the EPA limit 1300 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 648.3 µg/L — WBWA MOHRSVILLE DISTRICT · 375 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Barium | 18 µg/L 0.9% of the EPA limit 2000 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 219 µg/L — WBWA MOHRSVILLE DISTRICT · 375 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 36.25 µg/L 242% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 15 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 103 µg/L — SHILLINGTON MUNI AUTH · 13,300 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| TTHM | 69.155 µg/L 86% of the EPA limit 80 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 99.64 µg/L — BERN TWP MUNI AUTH · 1,800 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Chloroform | 59.54 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 87.54 µg/L — BERN TWP MUNI AUTH · 1,800 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Total Haloacetic Acids (HAA5) | 54 µg/L 90% of the EPA limit 60 µg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 61.8 µg/L — ONTELAUNEE TOWNSHIP · 2,598 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Xylenes, Total | 45.8 µg/L 0.5% of the EPA limit 10000 µg/L Highest in the city: WBWA MOHRSVILLE DISTRICT · 375 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dichloroacetic Acid | 28.2 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 37.4 µg/L — ONTELAUNEE TOWNSHIP · 2,598 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroacetic Acid | 20 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 27.4 µg/L — ONTELAUNEE TOWNSHIP · 2,598 people · 2019 | 7/10 | SYR4 |
| Arsenic | 23.75 µg/L 238% of the EPA limit, at the 95th percentile of samples — 10 µg/L Highest in the city: WBWA MOHRSVILLE DISTRICT · 375 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Lithium | 19.7 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 3/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Monochloroacetic Acid | 12.35 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromodichloromethane | 10.4 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 12.24 µg/L — BERN TWP MUNI AUTH · 1,800 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Ethylbenzene | 7.45 µg/L 1.1% of the EPA limit 700 µg/L Highest in the city: WBWA MOHRSVILLE DISTRICT · 375 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromochloromethane | 1.6 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2019
Highest in the city: 6.18 µg/L — PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2019 | 10/10 | SYR4 |
| Bromoform | 5.21 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2019 | 5/10 | SYR4 |
| Monobromoacetic Acid | 4.1 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: SHILLINGTON MUNI AUTH · 13,300 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Dibromoacetic Acid | 2 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: WILL O HILL APTS · 300 people · 2018 | 4/10 | SYR4 |
| Thallium, Total | 1.9 µg/L 95% of the EPA limit 2 µg/L Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene | 1.21 µg/L 1.7% of the EPA limit 70 µg/L Highest in the city: MUHLENBERG TWP MUNI AUTH · 22,400 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Trichloroethylene | 0.8400 µg/L 17% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: MUHLENBERG TWP MUNI AUTH · 22,400 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Tetrachloroethylene | 0.7000 µg/L 14% of the EPA limit 5 µg/L Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Lead | 0.0 mg/L 0% of the EPA limit 0.0150 mg/L Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2025
Highest in the city: 0.1150 mg/L — WILL O HILL APTS · 300 people · 2009 | 10/10 | LCR |
| Atrazine | 0.1000 µg/L 3.3% of the EPA limit 3 µg/L Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2019 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
| Pfpea | 0.0054 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0304 µg/L — PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 4/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhxa | 0.0044 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0223 µg/L — PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 3/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOS | 0.0164 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 3/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFHXS | 0.0102 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 2/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfba | 0.0100 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 3/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFOA | 0.0066 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0088 µg/L — MUHLENBERG TWP MUNI AUTH · 22,400 people · 2024 | 3/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Pfhpa | 0.0030 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2024
Highest in the city: 0.0084 µg/L — PAW PENN DISTRICT · 28,508 people · 2025 | 3/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFNA | 0.0077 µg/L No EPA limit set Highest in the city: MT PENN BORO MUNI AUTH · 10,400 people · 2025 | 2/10 | UCMR-5 |
| PFBS | 0.0056 µg/L No EPA limit set Main supplier: READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY · 95,100 people · 2024 | 4/10 | UCMR-5 |
| Combined Uranium | 0.0015 µg/L 0% of the EPA limit 30 µg/L Highest in the city: RAWA NORTH HEIDELBERG · 1,350 people · 2013 | 1/10 | SYR4 |
Each bar shows the measured level as a share of the EPA limit: green is
well under, amber is close to it, red is over. For lead and copper the
limit applies to exactly the 90th-percentile figure shown, so red there
means a real exceedance. For everything else the limit applies to a
running annual average while the figure is the 95th percentile of the
system's samples — over 100% is worth reading, but is not by itself a
violation.
Formal violations are listed separately.
These are the utilities' own EPA-reported results, not a city-wide
average. A detection means the lab measured the
substance — it isn't the same as exceeding a legal limit. Hover a source
tag to see the EPA program and years behind each figure.
Water suppliers serving Reading
| Supplier | Population served |
|---|---|
| READING AREA WATER AUTHORITY | 95,100 |
| PAW PENN DISTRICT | 28,508 |
| MUHLENBERG TWP MUNI AUTH | 22,400 |
| SHILLINGTON MUNI AUTH | 13,300 |
| MT PENN BORO MUNI AUTH | 10,400 |
| ONTELAUNEE TOWNSHIP | 2,598 |
| BERN TWP MUNI AUTH | 1,800 |
| RAWA NORTH HEIDELBERG | 1,350 |
| WBWA MOHRSVILLE DISTRICT | 375 |
| WILL O HILL APTS | 300 |
Frequently asked questions about Reading tap water
Is Reading tap water safe to drink?
EPA testing detected 36 contaminants in the water serving Reading. A detection isn't the same as a violation — most detected levels are within federal limits. Check the level and source for each contaminant above, and your utility's annual Consumer Confidence Report for the official compliance status.
How many water suppliers serve Reading?
10 public water suppliers report drinking-water monitoring for Reading, Pennsylvania to the EPA. Each is listed above with its population served.
What contaminants are in Reading's water?
The contaminants EPA monitoring detected in Reading include Nitrate, Fluoride, Copper, Barium, Lead. The full list, with the level at the main supplier and the data source, is in the table above.
Where does this data come from?
Every figure is official EPA drinking-water monitoring — the Lead & Copper Rule, the UCMR-5 nationwide testing program, and the EPA Six-Year Review — not our own testing. Each number is labelled with its source and period.